A person is 175 cm tall. What is his height in meters?
The correct answer and explanation is :
To convert the height of a person from centimeters to meters, we need to know the conversion factor between the two units. The conversion factor is:
1 meter (m) = 100 centimeters (cm).
Given that the person is 175 cm tall, we can convert this height into meters by dividing the number of centimeters by 100. The calculation is as follows:
[
\text{Height in meters} = \frac{175 \, \text{cm}}{100} = 1.75 \, \text{m}
]
Thus, the person’s height is 1.75 meters.
Explanation of the Conversion Process:
The metric system is based on powers of 10, which makes it relatively easy to convert between units like centimeters and meters. In this case, centimeters are a smaller unit than meters. Specifically, 1 meter is equal to 100 centimeters. This means that to convert from centimeters to meters, we need to divide the number of centimeters by 100.
When dealing with the metric system, understanding the relationship between different units of measurement is crucial. In this instance, centimeters and meters are both part of the same base unit, the meter. The primary difference is that centimeters are 100 times smaller than meters. So, every 100 centimeters make up 1 meter.
This conversion is frequently used in many fields, such as healthcare, engineering, and science, where precise measurements are necessary. In healthcare, for instance, a person’s height is often recorded in centimeters when checking growth charts or calculating BMI (Body Mass Index), but it can also be recorded in meters in more scientific contexts.
In summary, to convert 175 cm to meters, we divide by 100, resulting in a height of 1.75 meters. This simple conversion ensures that the units are consistent with the metric system’s standards, making it easy to understand and use in various applications.